Active display standby mode system and method

ABSTRACT

An exemplary electronic device comprises a display subsystem that is adapted to display an image and at least one additional subsystem. The exemplary electronic device additionally comprises a low power control logic that is adapted to place the electronic device in either a low power operating mode in which power is removed from the display subsystem and the at least one additional subsystem or an active-display standby mode in which the display subsystem remains powered and power is removed from the at least one additional subsystem.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart which may be related to various aspects of the present inventionthat are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful inproviding the reader with background information to facilitate a betterunderstanding of the various aspects of the present invention.Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to beread in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Many televisions are now supporting a low power operating mode toconserve power when they are not turned on. To implement this low powermode, many television designs incorporate a low power microcontrollerthat is separate from the system's main processor. In such designs, thelow power microcontroller remains powered during the low power operatingmode, while other major subsystems in the television, including thesystem processor, the display subsystem and the audio subsystem, arepowered down. The low power microcontroller is typically responsible forpowering the TV on when the user presses the “power on” button on theremote control or front panel. Other than providing a state ofreadiness, the low power operating mode provides no usefulness to theconsumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device that may employ anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are describedin the specification. It should be appreciated that in the developmentof any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or designproject, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made toachieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to anelectronic device that supports an active-display standby mode. Theactive-display mode may become enabled when the electronic device isturned off, allowing a user to display images or video from a variety ofsources other than broadcast signals. The hours of operation for theactive-display mode may be selected by the user. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, a typical low power operating modeis enabled when the electronic device is turned off and theactive-display standby mode is not enabled. In addition, powerconsumption and lamp life may be conserved in the active-display mode,as compared to normal television viewing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device that may employ anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device isgenerally referred to by the reference number 100. The electronic device100 (for example, a television, a portable DVD player or the like)comprises various subsystems represented as functional blocks in FIG. 1.Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the variousfunctional blocks shown in FIG. 1 may comprise hardware elements(including circuitry), software elements (including computer code storedon a machine-readable medium) or a combination of both hardware andsoftware elements.

A signal source input 102 may comprise an antenna input, an RCA input,an S-video input, a composite video input or the like. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that, although only one signal sourceis shown, the electronic 100 may have multiple signal source inputs. Thesignal source input 102 is adapted to receive a signal that comprisesvideo data and, in some cases, audio data. The signal received by thesignal source input 102 may comprise a broadcast spectrum (e.g., if thesignal source input 102 comprises an antenna) or a single channel ofvideo and/or audio data (e.g., if the signal source input 102 comprisesa DVD player or the like).

A tuner subsystem 104 is adapted to tune a particular video program froma broadcast signal received from the signal input source 102. Those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that input signals that arenot received as part of a broadcast spectrum may bypass the tuner 104because tuning is not required to isolate a video program associatedwith those signals.

A computer interface 106 may comprise a wireless network connection, anEthernet connection, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection or anyother suitable connection that allows the electronic device 100 tocommunicate with an external computer system. As discussed below, thecomputer interface 106 may be used to deliver video content for displayby the electronic device 100.

The electronic device 100 may include an audio subsystem 108. The audiosubsystem 108, which may comprise an audio amplifier, may be adapted toplay audio data associated with video data being displayed by theelectronic device 100.

A processor 110 is adapted to control the overall operation of theelectronic device 100. A memory 112 may be associated with the processor110 to hold machine-readable computer code that causes the processor 110to control the operation of the electronic device 100. A displaysubsystem 114 may comprise a liquid crystal (LCD) display, aliquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) display, a digital light projection(DLP) display or any other suitable display type. The display subsystem114 may include a lighting source (not shown) that is used to generate avisible image on the display.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a low power controllogic 116 is adapted to provide power from a power source 118 to thevarious subsystems of the electronic device 100. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the low power control logic 116supports operation of the electronic device 100 in a low power operatingmode. In the low power operating mode, power is removed from all majorsubsystems of the electronic device 100. Specifically, in low poweroperating mode of an exemplary embodiment, power is removed from thetuner subsystem 104, the audio subsystem 108, the processor 110 and thedisplay subsystem 114, including its associated light source.

The low power control logic 116 may be further adapted to detect when auser desires to turn on the electronic device 100 and restore power tothe needed subsystems so that the electronic device 100 may operate in anormal manner. For example, the low power control logic 116 may beadapted to receive an “ON” command from a remote control and returnpower from the power source 118 to all subsystems of the electronicdevice 100 in response thereto. By supporting the low power operatingmode, the electronic device 100 may save energy and may comply with oneor more power management standards such as the Energy Star standard.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the low powercontrol logic 116 supports an active-display standby mode, which is anintermediate step between normal operation (i.e., all device subsystemspowered) and low power operating mode (i.e. all major device subsystemsunpowered). In the active-display standby mode, power is not removedfrom the display subsystem 114 or its associated light source. Othersubsystems such as the tuner subsystem 104, the audio subsystem 108 orthe processor 110 may have power removed in the active-display standbymode if those subsystems are not needed for the display of video datafrom an alternative source. Moreover, the active-display standby modeenables the display subsystem 114 to operate as a monitor to displayvideo data from a source other than a typical broadcast signal. Forexample, the display subsystem 114 may receive and display a videosignal via the signal source input 102 or the computer interface 106when in the active-display standby mode.

Examples of video data that may be displayed by the display subsystem114 in active-display standby mode include digital photos stored in theelectronic device 100 or in an external device such as a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) dongle, a secure digital (SD) memory card or the like.Other examples of video data that may be displayed in the active-displaystandby mode include a closed-circuit television feed, a feed from oneor more wireless cameras (e.g., a video baby monitor, which may beconnected via the computer interface 106) or a feed from a camera in aremote location (for example, via the Internet). Still other examples ofvideo data that may be displayed by the display subsystem 114 in theactive-display standby mode include video conferencing (e.g., Skype),progress of on-going video games being played elsewhere, or otherinformation such as weather data or the like. Moreover, any video datamay be displayed in active-display standby mode so long as the displayof that video data does not require the operation of a device subsystemthat is not powered in the active-display standby mode.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the low powercontrol logic 116 of the electronic device 100 is adapted to determinewhether power may be removed from certain device subsystems depending onthe video source or content that is being displayed in theactive-display standby mode. For example, if the video being displayedin the active-display standby mode does not have a corresponding audiochannel, the low power control logic 116 may remove power from an audiosubsystem of the electronic device 100. Additionally, power may beremoved from the tuner subsystem 104 or other device subsystems that arenot required to display a particular type of video in the active-displaystandby mode.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hours duringwhich the electronic device 100 supports the active-display standby modemay be selected by the user. For example, the user may choose to havethe active-display standby mode operational during weekday evenings. Atother times when not in use, the electronic device 100 would enter thelow power operating mode. In this manner, the user may use theelectronic device 100 to display other content when it is convenient,while taking advantage of the power savings afforded by low poweroperating mode at other times when the electronic device 100 is not inuse.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may allow the user toselect energy and lamp-life conserving options such as dimming the LCDbacklight. A light sensor or motion sensor may optionally be used tofurther enhance energy savings by reducing the backlight in dark ambientconditions, or when no one is in the room.

FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The process isgenerally referred to by the reference number 200. At block 202, theprocess begins.

At block 204, a determination is made about whether the electronicdevice 100 (FIG. 1) is turned on. If the electronic device 100 (FIG. 1)is turned on, normal operation of the device continues with all devicesubsystems powered, as shown at block 208. The process then ends atblock 214.

If the electronic device 100 (FIG. 1) is no longer turned on at block204 (e.g., the user of the device has issued a command to turn thedevice off), a determination is made about whether the active-displaystandby mode has been enabled for the electronic device 100 (FIG. 1). Ifthe active-display standby mode has not been enabled, the low powercontrol logic 116 (FIG. 1) places the electronic device 100 (FIG. 1)into the low power operating mode, as shown at block 210. In the lowpower operating mode, power is removed from all major subsystems of theelectronic device 100 (FIG. 1), including the display subsystem 114(FIG. 1). Thereafter, the process ends at block 214.

If the active-display standby mode is determined to be enabled at block206, the low power control logic 116 (FIG. 1) places the electronicdevice 100 (FIG. 1) into the active-display standby mode. In theactive-display standby mode the display subsystem 114 (FIG. 1) remainspowered on and the low power control logic 116 removes power from atleast one other subsystem (e.g., the tuner subsystem 104 (FIG. 1) and/orthe audio subsystem 108 (FIG. 1)). After the electronic device 100(FIG. 1) is placed into the active-display standby mode at block 212,the process ends at block 214. As set forth above, display of video datafrom alternative sources on the display subsystem 114 is enabled whenthe electronic device 100 is in the active-display standby mode.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However,it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limitedto the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

1. An electronic device, comprising: a display subsystem that is adaptedto display an image; at least one additional subsystem; and a low powercontrol logic that is adapted to place the electronic device in either alow power operating mode in which power is removed from the displaysubsystem and the at least one additional subsystem or an active-displaystandby mode in which the display subsystem remains powered and power isremoved from the at least one additional subsystem.
 2. The electronicdevice recited in claim 1, wherein, if the electronic device is in theactive-display standby mode, the low power control logic is adapted todetermine whether the at least one additional subsystem is needed fordisplay of video data prior to removing power from the at least oneadditional subsystem.
 3. The electronic device recited in claim 1,wherein the active-display standby mode is operative during auser-selected time period.
 4. The electronic device recited in claim 1,wherein the electronic device displays video images received via asignal source input when in the active-display standby mode.
 5. Theelectronic device recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic devicedisplays video images received via a computer interface when in theactive-display standby mode.
 6. The electronic device recited in claim1, wherein the electronic device displays a digital photograph when inthe active-display standby mode.
 7. The electronic device recited inclaim 1, wherein the electronic device displays a closed-circuittelevision feed when in the active-display standby mode.
 8. Theelectronic device recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic devicedisplays video data received via a wireless camera when in theactive-display standby mode.
 9. The electronic device recited in claim1, wherein the electronic device displays a video conference when in theactive-display standby mode.
 10. The electronic device recited in claim1, wherein the electronic device displays video data received via theInternet when in the active-display standby mode.
 11. A method ofoperating an electronic device, comprising: placing the electronicdevice into an active-display standby mode in which a display subsystemremains powered and power is removed from at least one additionalsubsystem of the electronic device if the active-display standby mode isenabled by a user; and placing the electronic device in a low poweroperating mode in which power is removed from the display subsystem andthe at least one additional subsystem of the electronic device if theactive-display standby mode is not enabled by the user.
 12. The methodrecited in claim 11, comprising determining whether the at least oneadditional subsystem is needed for display of video data prior toremoving power from the at least one additional subsystem if theelectronic device is in the active-display standby mode.
 13. The methodrecited in claim 11, comprising placing the electronic device into theactive-display standby mode during a user-selected time period.
 14. Themethod recited in claim 11, comprising displaying video images receivedvia a signal source input during the active-display standby mode. 15.The method recited in claim 11, comprising displaying video imagesreceived via a computer interface during the active-display standbymode.
 16. The method recited in claim 11, comprising displaying adigital photograph during the active-display standby mode.
 17. Themethod recited in claim 11, comprising displaying a closed-circuittelevision feed during the active-display standby mode.
 18. The methodrecited in claim 11, comprising receiving video data via a wirelesscamera during the active-display standby mode.
 19. The method recited inclaim 11, comprising displaying video data received via the Internetwhen in the active-display standby mode.
 20. An electronic device,comprising: means for placing the electronic device into anactive-display standby mode in which a display subsystem remains poweredand power is removed from at least one additional subsystem of theelectronic device if the active-display standby mode is enabled by auser; and means for placing the electronic device in a low poweroperating mode in which power is removed from the display subsystem andthe at least one additional subsystem of the electronic device if theactive-display standby mode is not enabled by the user.